Household Hints.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 October 1914, Page 2

Household Hints.

When lining a basin with pastry for a beefsteak pudding, cut a piece of the pastry away from the bottom about the size of ia two-shilling piece ; then put the meat in, and the pudding will take an hour less to cook than if there were no hole in the paste. A towel attached to the kitchen apron saves many steps for the busy woman. Hem a good-sized square of linen and sew a loop of tape on one corner. Slip this loop over the apron band, and you will always have a 5 towel ready for wiping the hands upon. Ho not use too much force in polishing shoes. A gentle brushing | with a soft brush is better than the vigorous work of the bootblack. Never allow a thick crust of black- | ing on your shoes. .Wash it off oc- [ casionally, and apply a little cas-tor-oil ; then polish over in an hour or two. i Experts state that it is expedient |to put saw-dust or any soft material imder linoleum. Tt is very essential that a floorcloth or linoleum should have a firm foundation, otherwise the tilting of a chair or a heavy piece of furniture will leave an unsightly mark. Sawdust should never be used on a damp floor, and ! all stone or concrete floors are more or less damp. Dampness naturally causes sawdust to become musty, when it throws off a disagreeable odour. There is a material called Latus felt—similar to rooffing felt — made specially for putting under linoleums on damp floors. To clean discoloured marble, first of all wash with soap and water, then wipe dry, and apply a paste made of powdered bathbrick and lemon-juice. Rub well into the discoloured parts and rinse it off in clean cold water. When boiling suet or flour dumplings keep the lid of the saucepan slightly raised on one side by slipping a stick of firewood under it. When this is done the water is kept boiling and the dumplings will not be heavy. ! If boiled potatoes have to stand a while before being served, cover them over with a thick cloth and sta-nd the pan where they will keep warm but will not scorch. The cloth absorbs the moisture and I helps to make the potatoes floury. For getting rid of blackberries in the kitchen, mix thoroughly together equal parts of sifted sugar and plaster of Paris. Place the pn-v----rler in little heaps on the flo. . , where the beetles mostly come. In a short time they will all have disappeared . The ticking of a watch in a sick room is often most trying to a nervous person. To obviate this turn a tumbler over a watch on a chair beside the bed, and the sound of the ticking can no longer be heard. When making Yorkshire puddings and pancakes mix the flour with water instead of milk, break the o^g into the basin, and beat all together thoroughly. Tt will be found much lighter and cheaper, less milk being required.